Oh, hard is the fortune of all womankind
She’s always controlled, she’s always confined
Controlled by her parents until she’s a wife
A slave to her husband the rest of her life

Oh, I’m just a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I’ve always been courted by the wagoner’s lad
He’s courted me daily by night and by day
And now he is loading and going away

Oh, my parents don’t like him because he is poor
They say he’s not worthy of entering my door
He works for a living, his money’s his own
And if they don’t like him they can leave him alone

Oh, your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Then sit down here by me as long as you may
My horses ain’t hungry, they won’t eat your hay
So fare thee well, darling, I’ll be on my way

Oh, your wagon needs greasing, your whip’s for to mend
Then sit down here by me as long as you can
My wagon is greasy, my whip’s in my hand
So fare thee well, darling, no longer to stand